Fri 31 May 2013

25 Responses to “SUMMER TV SCHEDULE, 2013: SCRIPTED ORIGINAL MYSTERY SERIES, by Michael Shonk.”

1. Steve Says:
   May 31st, 2013 at 11:55 am

   Thanks to Michael for this long compilation of TV shows, many of which actually sound interesting. Some of these are on channels I’d never watch otherwise. My usual complaint is that with several hundred channels to choose from, there’s never anything on worth watching.

   I may be wrong about that.

   PS. There are a lot of links in this article. If any of them are bad, let me know ASAP.

2. The Doc Says:
   May 31st, 2013 at 2:31 pm

   A way to sort out the gold from the crap is a search engine of some tv-guide, where you type in what you want to be alerted to, i.e., old favorites.

   The Doc

3. michael Says:
   May 31st, 2013 at 3:48 pm

   #2 Doc, that was one of Tivo’s old selling points. From what I have been told, it never worked well. Of course critics are supposed to do that. But you miss some surprising great stuff if you don’t check out the new stuff.

   With current TV I sample nearly everything and usually reject them before the first commercial break. There are only a few shows I make sure to watch, PERSON OF INTEREST, JUSTIFIED, ARCHER, VENTURE BROTHERS, and DOCTOR WHO. Now notice your old favorites and notice how few were on the same year. It is natural to compare today’s shows to 60 years of programs. I have been playing around with what was the best year of television. No matter what year I pick, most of the shows were terrible.

   Today is the greatest time to watch TV. In the past you watched what was on and when it was on, you had limited choices, or you read a book. Now, we have all these choices, including much of our past, to watch whenever we feel like it.

   For example, when THE UNTOUCHABLES were on I lived in an area with two TV stations. I never saw THE UNTOUCHABLES, now I have the DVDs.

   Entertainment taste change with each generation, it is especially noticeable how comedy changes. Drama is less so. NCIS is the most watched TV series and it is not that much different than the 70’s TV dramas. Cable networks USA and TNT series tend to have a 70s feel, with USA like NBC and TNT like the more serious CBS.

   Doc, whenever the series arrive to Austria, check them out. There is always a PERRY MASON DVD to watch if they fail to keep you interested beyond the first commercial break.

4. John Says:
   May 31st, 2013 at 11:24 pm

   A bit of bragging: I auditioned for Whodunnit (seems like that old ABC reality show “The Mole” with fake dead bodies), but didn’t make the cut. Based on who they chose I guess I’m not pretty enough for TV. Bah!

   Glad to see my favorite trash TV show of last season — 666 Park Avenue — will be back with its closing episodes.

5. michael Says:
   May 31st, 2013 at 11:52 pm

   #4. You would have made a great killer, John. I got the impression its like those dinner theatre or vacation trips where a murder is recreated around you and you have to solve it. I like your description of “‘The Mole’ with fake dead bodies.” Did it look like it would be fun to watch?

6. Jeff Meyerson Says:
   June 1st, 2013 at 6:40 am

   Good job, Michael. The only one we watch that isn’t on there isn’t a mystery but sf: FALLING SKIES, starting June 9.

7. Jeff Meyerson Says:
   June 1st, 2013 at 8:48 am

   Also note, there is a ‘u’ in ENDEAVOUR.

8. michael Says:
   June 1st, 2013 at 9:25 am

   #6/7 Thanks Jeff. When will the British learn to spell good english?

   There will be some other SF summer series along with FALLING SKIES (on TNT).

   BBC America has IN THE FLESH a mini series about zombies airing over three days starting June 6.

   SYFY has Primeval: New World starting June 8 at 10pm

   The big summer series will be CBS’ UNDER THE DOME starting June 24 at 10pm

9. Steve Says:
   June 1st, 2013 at 10:36 am

   #7. Jeff. I’ve made the change!

10. michael Says:
    June 1st, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    In the past, summer TV was where all the failures went.

    Then came cable such as USA, TNT, and AMC began to program their best stuff in the summer and away from the networks. So shows like USA’s GRACELAND, TNT’s KING & MAXWELL, AMC’s LOW WINTER SUN and FX’s THE BRIDGE may be quite good.

    The networks have noticed, but find most of their scripted stuff fails in summer, often because they air shows that were fall rejects or failures. I am looking forward to NBC’s CROSSING LINES, but expect to be disappointed.

    The upcoming fall season will look different as the limited series aka the mini-series will play a major role in all the major networks’ plans. The goal for the Big Four is to find an audience that will justify them programming for the entire year, not just from September to April/May. This is one reason CBS is showing a major series UNDER THE DOME in the summer.

    The networks have discovered people watch TV differently with the DVR, downloading and streaming. The same day ratings for shows fail to account for the growing number of viewers watching the show when they want and not when it is programmed. The exception is sports, reality television, and “event” television. This is why Fox’s plans to bring back 24 as a limited series. Other limited series coming next season include CBS’ HOSTAGES and NBC’s CROSSBONES (John Malkovich as Blackbeard the Pirate).

    The majority of TV will always be crap, but there should be a few things to enjoy in between our DVDs and books.

11. michael Says:
    June 2nd, 2013 at 6:56 pm

    It is too late to matter, but THE KILLING is two hours June 2 (tonight) so it begins at 8pm Eastern. Sorry, if I caused anyone to miss the first hour. I believe the rest of the series is at 9pm and hour episodes.

12. Todd Mason Says:
    June 4th, 2013 at 8:49 am

    RIZZOLI & ISLES (pluralish), and if you mention that one or 666, you should mention ABC’s ROOKIE BLUE. Also, THE GLADES and LONGMIRE on A&E…

    And check this for MHz Worldview’s summer slate of crime drama, broadcast in about thirty-odd markets nationally and streamed online:
    https://www.facebook.com/MHzWorldviewInternationalMystery/app_205521576149308

    And, of course, though it’s not quite a crime drama the way 666 and ZERO HOUR aren’t (though not fantasy, either) repeats of BORGEN can be seen in limited broadcast/satellite service (Dish/Direct) and streaming online in the US:
    http://www.linktv.org/borgen
    (Sadly, the streaming window has closed on the pilot episode, this go ’round, but the rest are up or soon will be.)

    The somewhat soapy web-series umbrella WIGS has a fair amount of some criminous interest:
    https://www.youtube.com/user/wigs

13. Todd Mason Says:
    June 4th, 2013 at 9:00 am

    And then there’s NTSF: SD: SUV…
    http://video.adultswim.com/ntsfsdsuv/

14. michael Says:
    June 4th, 2013 at 10:51 am

    Thanks, Todd.

    Steve, if you have time please add to the list:

    June 14th:

    NTSF: SD: SUV – CARTOON NETWORK (Adult Swim) 12 Midnight

    http://video.adultawim.com/ntsfsdsuv

15. David Bushman Says:
    June 4th, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    Thanks for the list, Michael; am wondering what people thought of the two-hour season premiere of The Killing. I was really impressed. I’m one of those people who loves a slow-paced, moody procedural with a ton of rain. In the past I actually thought — unlike just about every TV critic on the planet — that The Killing sometimes moved too fast, and lost sight of its own strengths. What I love most about The Killing is all the silence and implication (rather than explication). And the rain.

16. michael Says:
    June 4th, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    #14. David, early ratings were equal to season two premiere, now if that is good or bad is another question. You know I hated the series so I did not watch. My problem is with the writer. I loved RUBICON, one of the best and slowest spy series TV has ever aired. I also had no real problem with the ending of season one, but wondered if anyone connected to the series had been paying attention to what happened to TWIN PEAKS.

    I would have sampled it if they had changed writers. Did you like it?

17. David Bushman Says:
    June 4th, 2013 at 2:44 pm

    Liked it very much.

18. Todd Mason Says:
    June 4th, 2013 at 4:55 pm

    I have a slew more awaiting moderation (too many links to slip in naturally)…comment 12.

19. michael Says:
    June 4th, 2013 at 5:37 pm

    17. Look forward to reading them Todd. I welcome your help shifting through the endless number of cable, internet, and television channels.

    There are many good summer series I left out because they were not mysteries, notice nothing from HBO. But I don’t doubt I missed a few. And this September will be even more choices coming for the TV mystery viewer. Such as Cartoon Network’s MIKE TYSON’S MYSTERIES where Mike solves mysteries with the help of a talking pigeon!

20. Todd Mason Says:
    June 4th, 2013 at 6:00 pm

    That’s interesting…the software here puts my not on the Slew at 18, since it shows me my moderation-dependent aspiring comment.

    TRUE BLOOD is a very borderline crime drama.

    And then there might be some Canadian items we haven’t seen Down Here previously on the various little digital broadcast networks…we didn’t get THE BORDER or THE COLLECTOR, I think, till the advent of Retro, Antenna, This, Me and Cozi (and Bounce, which is left out of this equation, I suspect).

    Ion recently got higher ratings for a stretch than the CW with only the one original series in primetime, the Maple-flavored co-production FLASHPOINT…

21. Steve Says:
    June 4th, 2013 at 6:28 pm

    Todd, I think you’re right. I could read your comment #12, and maybe you could, but I don’t think anyone else could. Michael, take note. Did you see this one before now?

22. Todd Mason Says:
    June 4th, 2013 at 6:47 pm

    Nope, he couldn’t. That’s a means of getting private messages on your blog, if you wish to use it thus, Steve…(“note on the slew” not Not on the slew)

23. michael Says:
    June 4th, 2013 at 7:20 pm

    #21. I didn’t notice comment 12 before but can now. It is possible I just missed it.

    #12. Todd, I started my list with June and ROOKIE BLUE, LONGMIRE, and THE GLADES all began in May. BORGAN is always worth a mention, but its not original episodes like ZERO HOUR and 666 PARK AVENUE will be.

    The original list was for May/June and added a short plot synopsis, cast, and season number. As I was copying it to send it to Steve I hit the wrong button and deleted the entire post. By the time, I had recovered the May series had premiered and I decided to do a faster simpler version.

    If I have time in August I hope to do a post for the September schedule.

    Maybe a schedule not limited to just mysteries would work for Sweet Freedom?

    YouTube remains one of my favorite channels to find TV, be it British, Canadian, alternative, or forgotten American TV series. But the stuff I watch lacks a schedule and I have yet to get into the channels part of YouTube yet. I need to check out WIGS.

    The MHz Worldview summer schedule does look great. I need to take a closer look at that and figure out how to add it all without overworking Steve to death.

24. Steve Says:
    June 5th, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    Acting on Michael’s request (Comment #23) I’ve added the following series to the original post:

    June 4th:

    MAIGRET – MHz Worldview International

    http://www.mhznetworks.org/series/maigret

    June 9th:

    IRENE HUSS – MHz Worldview International

    http://www.mhznetwork.org/series/irene-huss

25. Steve Says:
    June 5th, 2013 at 7:00 pm

    In response to Todd in Comment #12, I’ve also corrected the spelling of RIZZOLI & ISLES (pluralish). Better later than never!

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